Rail-clamp.



F. O. RUSH.

RAIL CLAMP.

APPLICAIION FILED APR.20, I916.

Patented Dec. 5, 1916.

ATTOR/l/EVJ TINTTETU smarts PATENT onrnon.

FRED 0. RUSH, 0F WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN MANGANESE STEEL COMPANY, OF AUGUSTA, MAINE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

RAIL-CLAMP.

momma Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 20, 1916. Serial No. 92,553.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, FRED O. RUSH, a citi- Zen of the United States, and a resident of Wilmington, in the county of New Castle and State of Delaware, have made and invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Clamps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a rail clamp or anchor.

An object of the present invention is to provide a clamp which may be easily and quickly secured to a rail, and accordingly tie down one end of a cable, the opposite end of which is used to anchor in place a crane or steam shovel.

A further object is to provide an article of the above-mentioned class which is of simple construction and embodies but few parts.

A further object is to provide a rail clamp or cable anchor which, when locked to a rail, cannot be accidentally detached or displaced therefrom, and which at the same time may be easily and quickly removed without requiring the use of any specially designed tools.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description proceeds, wherein it is to be understood that changes in the precise embodiment of my invention can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit thereof.

In the drawings, the preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation and partially in section of the rail clamp embodying the characteristic features of my invention, and illustrating the same attached to a rail; Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the foregoing; and Fig. 3 is a detail view in top plan of the locking ring.

Referring specifically to the several views, the rail clamp is formed with a pair of similar tongs or grappling arms 5, having upper beveled ends 6. The beveled upper ends of the arms form rocking surfaces, allowing the lower and hooked extremities 16 of these arms to be spread apart or drawn together as the clamp is passed over and secured to a rail.

The rail clamp is primarily intended to serve as an anchor for the end of a cable,

upon which vertical strains will be exerted, such as used in tying down a steam shovel or crane, and with this in View, a yoke 7, having a bolt 8 extending therethrough, is provided and is secured to the upper extremities of the grappling arms 5, by the passage of the bolt 8 through eyes 10 in the yoke and through alined openings 9 in the grappling arms. The yoke forms a convenient attaching member and support for the end of a rope, chain or cable, which is to be anchored to a rail.

A locking member, comprising a ring 13, embraces the shanks of the grappling arms 5, and is provided with downwardly extending side pieces 14:,between which latter extends a spreading member 15. The spreading member is accordingly located in a plane below the ring, so that the latter will not interfere with the action -of the spreading member as the locking member is raised or lowered.

When it is desired to anchor the clamp to a rail, the locking member is forcibly raised into the elevated position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, with the result that the spreading member 15 forces the lower extremities 12 of the grappling arms outwardly, allowing them to pass over the head of a rail or similar structure to which the clamp is to be anchored. The lockin member is then forcibly lowered, contractmg the grappling arms and rigidly locking them in such position. The clamp as thus constructed is especially designed to withstand vertical strains such as experienced in tying down cranes and steam shovels. The releasement of the clamp may be conveniently accomplished by forcibly tilting it and bringing the lower ends of the side pieces 14 of the locking member against the head of the rail, which results in the upward displacement or dislodgment of the locking member and the releasement of the grappling arms.

What I claim is A rail clamp comprising confronting grappling arms with lower hooked extremities and with confronting rocking surfaces at their upper extremities, a bolt member extending through the upper extremities of said grappling arms and in the plane of the lower hooked extremities, an attaching member carried by said bolt member, and New Castle and State of Delaware, this 12th a loiziking ring slidahly embracing the day of April, A. D. 1916. shan s of said grapplin arms, and provided ith a spreading nember located be- FRED RUSH 5 neath said ring and extending between the Witnesses:

said grappling arms. GEO. T. COMLY,

Signed at New Castle, in the county of HARRY A. HUNT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, I Washington, D. G. 

